Black Friday is here and if a new iPhone, GooglePixel, or Samsung Galaxy S24 mobile is on your list here’s how to find the best deals – Our Tech Commerce Editor shares four tips to find the deals
It’s official, after weeks of seeing the constant pop-ups and ‘early sale’ deals, Black Friday is officially here, so eager Christmas shoppers or those looking to treat themselves can finally grab a ‘bargain’… well, you hope.
‘Is it too good to be true?’ is likely to be a bolded question at the front of many consumers’ minds, as let’s face it, not all the ‘deals’ we’re seeing this Black Friday are a saving. This may present a bigger worry for those who have a pricey purchase on their list or those in need of a mobile upgrade.
There are many handset deals to choose from, including Samsung, Sky Mobile, O2, EE, Currys, Very, and Amazon. Not to mention the likes of Giffgaff and Smarty, who make finding a SIM for your flashy new phone affordable.
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Along with the hundreds off Samsung S24, Sky Mobile iPhone 16 deals, and a range of Google Pixel discounts at Amazon, the Pixel 8a is now £144 cheaper, while the newer Pixel 9 has £100 off. As someone whose job it is to scour the sales, there are a few things I’d recommend following when splashing out on a new mobile.
‘Android over iOS’ when it comes to the sales
This is not me picking a favourite model but shoppers should be aware that finding an Apple iPhone deal will be harder to come by. If you do find one, these are notoriously lower than Samsung or Google Pixel discounts (two of many Android devices out there).
For instance, it only takes a quick look at the Apple site to see there’s no mention of Black Friday. While it’s rife on Samsung’s store – with £200 currently off the price of the S24, plus you can a free pair of Galaxy Buds3 Pro if you fill out a form after purchase.
Use a price checker
If you have a brand of mobile in mind but are unsure where to start when it comes to actually buying the phone, then looking at price tracker sites can be super helpful. I’d recommend both Carphone Warehouse and Mobiles.co.uk. Both sites pull network deals alongside each other, so you can see the prices per month, data amounts, contract lengths, and storage amounts next to each other.
You can also choose SIM only, handset only, or combined plans. For instance I took a quick look at the S24 Ultra on Carphone Warehouse and got a quick snapshot of the different iD Mobile and Vodafone plans – plus the upfront costs too.
Check the contract length
This may sound self-explanatory, but it’s a technical part of buying a mobile (on a provider plan) that can trick out shoppers. In the buzz of Black Friday, it may be easy to think a ‘deal’ is a bargain by falling for the cheaper ‘£25 per month’ price, for example.
Remember, most of these plans have a fixed multi-year contract, so the cost will quickly add up and you’ll have to pay an exit fee if you want to leave early. A prime example of this is Sky – its current 50% off data plans for six months is eye-catching and a way to cut the cost of a flagship phone plan down in price; however, the contracts are long.
Looking at the iPhone 16 deal you’ll see it gives an option of 12 or 24 months. This is the period you’ll be able to ‘swap your phone after.’ In the small print below, you’ll see it’s actually on a minimum 36-month contract. “This is a 36-month contract. You can swap to a new phone anytime after 31 days, or from 24 months at no extra cost.” But you’ll be tied into a contract for three years.
Buying from Amazon? Check the dispatch details
The main features on the top of shoppers’ checklists when buying a new phone is size, brand, speed, camera, and system. I’d argue one of the most important is checking if an upfront phone deal is unlocked – this means you’ll be able to buy any pay-as-you-go SIM to pair with it.
Another tip when buying a mobile off Amazon is to check the dispatch details, like where it’s being shipped from. An easy way is to look for an official storefront – Google, Samsung, Apple, Nokia all have one – this will tell you it’s the approved official brand page.
If it’s a third party seller then make sure to look at where it’s being sold from, any reviews of the seller on the page, and details like delivery time.
